MATEC Web of Conferences 269, 01009 (2019) https://doi.org/10.

1051/matecconf/201926901009
IIW 2018

The Influence of Heat Input to Mechanical Properties and

Microstructures of API 5L-X65 Steel Using Submerged Arc
Welding Process
Suryana1,*, Agus Pramono1, Iskandar Muda2, and Ade Setiawan1
1
Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, 42435 Cilegon, Indonesia
2
Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani, 20485 Bandung, Indonesia

Abstract. API 5L-X65 steel is the type of high strength low alloy (HSLA) steel, widely used in the
manufacture of pipe. Submerged arc welding (SAW) is widely used for the fabrication of the pipe, the
extent of use submerged arc welding caused it could be done automatically and high reliability. The results
of the welding process will lead to differences and changes in the microstructure in heat affected zone
(HAZ) and weld metal that will affect the mechanical properties of the output, so as to obtain good welding
results required the selection of welding parameters accordingly. As the use of the heat input during welding
is very important influence on the mechanical properties and microstructure of the weld. The purpose of this
study to determine the effect of heat input on the microstructure, hardness and toughness of welds in
submerged arc welding. Welding currents used were 200, 300, 400 and 500 Ampere with a voltage were
used 25, 27 and 30 Volt. The results showed that the higher heat input will result in a growing area of HAZ
region width and grain size increased. Highest hardness values are the results of the weld heat input with a
low of 244.69 HVN caused by the rapid cooling rate of the weld area. The highest toughness values are the
results of the highest heat input that was dominated by acicular ferrite phase.

1 Introduction pipe has minimum allowable stress of 65,000 psi or 448

MPa which is widely used in the structure of the oil and
At present, welding is one of the most widely used gas platforms.
techniques of plumbing in piping, for example in the Submerged arc welding is one type of electric
construction of pipe fittings, oil pipes and gas pipelines. welding by the process of combining the welded material
The API 5l-X65 steel is included in HSLA steel which is by heating and liquefying the parent metal and electrode
widely used in pipe making applications. The welded by an electric are located between the parent metal and
product will have good quality when the resulting weld the electrode. Metal melt currents and arcs are covered
area can provide perfect continuity between the parts with fluid granules over the welded area. Submerged arc
connected with each part of the joint, so that the joints welding does not require pressure and filler metal is
and the parent metal do not show any obvious difference. mechanically supplied continuously into a metal arc
Therefore, there are conditions that must be met in the formed between the tip of electrode filler and the parent
welding process among others, the existence of heat metal deposited by the flux [2].
input.
HSLA steel is developed with special chemical
composition to achieve higher mechanical properties.
HSLA steels are manufactured to produce good
mechanical properties and have greater corrosion
resistance than conventional carbon steels. HSLA steel
contains a low carbon (0.05% - 0.25%C) so that it is able
to shape and weld from this steel better than mild steel
and has a manganese content up to 2% [1].
The API 5L-X65 steel is included in HSLA steel
standards where this steel is a type of steel that is widely
applied to pipes designed specifically for subsea pipes,
with the 5L specification being a standard specification
by the conference of manufacture and distribution of
pipes channels for oil, water and gas with exceptional
usage conditions. And grade X65 shows this underwater Fig. 1. Submerged Arc Welding Process [2].

*
Corresponding author: suryana@untirta.ac.id
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
MATEC Web of Conferences 269, 01009 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201926901009
IIW 2018

In arc welding, the source of energy come from

electricity that converted to heat energy. This heat
energy is actually the results of collaboration of current,
voltage and speed of welding. The third parameter is the
speed of welding also affect the welding energy because
the heating process is not still but moving with a certain
speed. The relationship between the three parameters
that produce welding energy is often called heat input
that can be written in the following equation [3]:

(1) Fig. 3. CCT Diagram on SAW [3].

where:
HI = Heat Input (joule/mm)
fi = Weld Heat Efficiency (SAW  0.9 – 1.0) 2 Experimental
E = Arc Voltage (volt)
Submerged arc welding process was conducted to study
I = Welding Current (ampere)
the influence of heat input on mechanical properties and
v = Welding speed (mm/min)
microstructure of API 5L-X65 steel. The base metal used
in the present investigation was in the form API 5L-X65
During welding, the welded metal and heat affected
plate with sizes 150 mm X 75 mm X 11 mm and the
zone (HAZ) will undergo a series of thermal cycles, is
filler was CHW-S11 solid electrode of 3.2 mm diameter.
heating to maximum temperature followed by cooling to
Table 1 show the chemical composition of the base and
room temperature. The thermal cycle affects the
the filler used.
microstructure of the welding metal and HAZ, in which
the weld metal will undergo a series of phase
transformations during the cooling process, is from
molten metal turns to ferrite- then austenite- and Table 1. Chemical Composition.
ultimately becomes ferrite- or dependent bainite at its
cooling speed. Base Filler
Elements Material Material
(API 5l X65) (CHW-S11)

C 0.074 0.090

S 0.028 0.010

Ni 0.221 -

Cu 0.160 0.170

Fig. 2. Thermal Cycle during Welding [4]. Si 0.257 0.150

According to Abson and Pargeter [5], the

microstructure of welding metal comprises combinations V 0.042 -
of two or more of the following phases arranged
according to their forming temperatures: Cr 0.106 1.350
1. Fine grain boundaries are formed between the
temperature of 1000-650oC along the austenite
grain boundary. Mn 1.117 0.750
2. Ferrite widmanstatten is formed between the
temperature 750-650oC. Nb 0.054 -
3. Ferrite acicular is formed between the
temperature 650oC.
4. Bainite is formed between the temperature 400- Mo 0.006 1.500
500oC
5. Martensite is formed when the cooling process P - 0.012
is very fast.

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MATEC Web of Conferences 269, 01009 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201926901009
IIW 2018

Here, double V-groove was used so that welding Microstructure is a major factor in determining the
could be accomplished ensuring full penetration. Before mechanical properties of welded material, so this has an
welding process, all the edge of plate were thoroughly important role in analysing the results of welds. In this
cleaned to avoid any source of contamination, that could study the discussion of microstructure of the weld metal
result weld defect. Bead-on-plate submerged arc welding area for all variations of heat input 0.75 kJ/mm to 2.25
was performed along the centre line of plate. Submerged kJ/mm can be seen in Fig. 5.
arc welding process was conducted by varying current
and voltage i.e. 200, 300, 400 and 500 Ampere and 25,
27 and 30 Volt, respectively. While the welding speed
was kept constant to obtained heat input value as
independent variables.

The samples were denoted by A and B as shown in

Fig. 4. Sample A was polished at various grit papers and
after cloth polishing microhardness was performed
perpendicularly along weld pool, HAZ region and base Lower
metal. Sample B were used for Charpy impact testing at Bainite
different testing temperatures.

Fig. 5a. Microstructure of Weldment at 0.75 kJ/mm of Heat

Input.

Upper
B B B B B A Bainite

Fig. 4. Bead-on-plate Submerged Arc Welding.

In order to observe the change of microstructure that

take place during welding, related to each heat input Fig. 5b. Microstructure of Weldment at 0.81 kJ/mm of Heat
combination; specimens were machined from the weld Input.
pads. Standard polishing procedures were used for
general observations of microstructure. Microstructure of
different zones i.e. weld metal, HAZ, and fusion
boundary under different heat input combination were
viewed and captured with an optical microscope (Zeiss
Upper
Axiolab) coupled with an image analysis software.
Bainite
The machined specimens of different heat input
condition were used measuring micro-hardness of
different zones of the weldment. The 200 gf Vickers
hardness testing machine was used. Charpy impact
testing was used to measure toughness and ductile-brittle
transition temperature. This testing was conducted at
different temperature i.e. -40oC, -20oC, 0oC, 10oC and
27.4oC.

3 Results and Discussions Fig. 5c. Microstructure of Weldment at 0.9 kJ/mm of Heat
Input.

3.1 Influence of Heat Input on Microstructures

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MATEC Web of Conferences 269, 01009 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201926901009
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Grain Boundary
Ferrite

Acicular
Ferrite

Fig. 5d. Microstructure of Weldment at 1.125 kJ/mm of Heat Fig. 5g. Microstructure of Weldment at 1.5 kJ/mm of Heat
Input. Input.

Widmanstatten
Widmanstatten Ferrite
Ferrite
Acicular
Acicular Ferrite
Ferrite

Grain Boundary
Ferrite

Fig. 5e. Microstructure of Weldment at 1.215 kJ/mm of Heat Fig. 5h. Microstructure of Weldment at 1.62 kJ/mm of Heat
Input. Input.

Grain Boundary
Ferrite
Acicular
Ferrite
Acicular
Ferrite Widmanstatten
Ferrite

Fig. 5f. Microstructure of Weldment at 1.35 kJ/mm of Heat Fig. 5i. Microstructure of Weldment at 1.8 kJ/mm of Heat
Input. Input.

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MATEC Web of Conferences 269, 01009 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201926901009
IIW 2018

At the lowest heat input of 0.75 kJ/mm the

microstructure is formed as lower bainite because at low
thermal input causes faster cooling rate so that formed in
the form of lower bainite, a long with the increased heat
input of the upper bainite formed structure Fig. 5b-5d
because the cooling rate is slower than the 0.75 kJ/mm
Acicular heat input. Increased subsequent heat input from 1.215
Ferrite kJ/mm to 2.25 kJ/mm heat input are the dominant
increase of acicular ferrite but there are also ferrite grain
boundaries and widmanstatten ferrite, this is due to the
Grain Boundary
Ferrite slower cooling rate, such conditions are shown in Fig.
5e-5l. The percentage of acicular ferrite structure is seen
more and there is a decrease in the percentage of the
widmanstatten ferrite structure and the grain boundary
ferrite, this condition is caused by a large current
Fig. 5j. Microstructure of Weldment at 1.875 kJ/mm of Heat strength will increase the heat input thus slowing the
Input. corresponding cooling rate for the acicular ferrite
formation.

3.2 Influence of Heat Input on Hardness

Acicular Effect of heat input to the average hardness weld are is

Ferrite shown in Fig. 6 below.

Grain Boundary
Ferrite

Fig. 5k. Microstructure of Weldment at 2.025 kJ/mm of Heat

Input.

Fig. 6. Influence of Heat Input on Average Hardness at

Different Weld Area

Acicular
Ferrite Fig. 6 is a bar graphic representation showing the
influence of the heat input to the mean hardness values
of each of the welded areas including the parent metal,
the HAZ region, and the weld metal for various heat
Grain Boundary input ranging from 0.75 kJ/mm, 25 kJ/mm. At heat input
Ferrite 0.75 kJ/mm has the highest hardness, where the hardness
of the parent metal area, HAZ, and welding metal are
194.12 HVN, 217.86 HVN and 244.69 HVN. As for the
heat input 2.25 kJ/mm has the lowest hardness, where
Fig. 5l. Microstructure of Weldment at 2.25 kJ/mm of Heat the hardness values are sequentially starting from the
Input. parent metal, HAZ, to the welding metal of 174.88
HVN, 187.45 HVN and 197.7 HVN. Tis is due to the
low thermal input causing the cooling rate to be fast as
well as on the high thermal input, the cooling rate is
slow.

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Fig. 7. Micro-Hardness Distribution at different Heat
Input at Different Zones
The micro-hardness distribution data in Fig. 7 shows
a uniform tendency for each heat input to increase the
hardness value of the parent metal to the fine HAZ area
then to the coarse HAZ to the welding metal, after which
it decreases to the fine HAZ region to the parent metal as
a result of cooling rate. This is consistent with the
microstructure formed that the coarse HAZ has a bainite
structure. Besides, the hardness value does not show the
tendency of linear line in the same area. This is because
the identified microstructure is not always the same even
in one region. In areas of weld metal for example, which
have sufficiently random data levels, the identified
microstructure of an acicular ferrite, a widmanstatten
ferrite or a grain boundary ferrite.
3.3 Influence of Heat Input on Toughness
In the following section illustrate the influence of heat
input on toughness of API 5L-X65 to determine
transition temperature of the overall heat input which can
be seen in Fig. 8.
Fig. 8. Toughness at different Heat Input
The transition temperature is the temperature where
there is a change in the toughness of the metal from
brittle to ductile. The smaller transition temperature lead
to the better toughness. The transition temperature at the
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https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201926901009
metal of the welding area by using a heat input of 0.75
kJ/mm, 0.9 kJ/mm, 1.215 kJ/mm. 1.35 kJ/mm and 2.25
kJ/mm has range (-20oC) to 0oC while in welding with
heat input 1.125 kJ/mm, 1.8 kJ/mm and 1.875 kJ/mm
occur in temperature range (-20oC) to 10oC whereas at
heat input 0.81 kJ/mm and 1.62 kJ/mm has range 0 oC to
10oC. From these data indicates that the lowest transition
temperature occurs in range (-20oC) to 0oC i.e. at -10oC
temperatures occurring at a heat input of 0.75 kJ/mm, 0.9
kJ/mm, 1.215 kJ/mm, 1.35 kJ/mm and 2.25 kJ/mm.
The following sections will explain how the
influence of the heat input to the toughness value of the
weld metal at a temperature of -20oC is suitable for the
application of the electrodes used as welding metal filler.
The energy standard at -20oC from the 100 Joule CHW-
S11 electrode as shown in Table 1.
The toughness value at -20oC has a tendency to
increase as heat input increases but fluctuate increasing
because in some samples there are defects of incomplete
penetration and microhomogenicity of the microstructure
on the weld metal where there are some re-infected or
reheated zone. The increase in the toughness value that
occurs due to the microstructure formed in dominated by
acicular ferrites, as described by [6] that acicular ferrite
phases are formed intergranularly in the form of short
ferrite needles in random directions so that when there is
a force from outside the crack fracture that occurs will
not quickly propagate because of the interlocking
mechanism.
Fig. 9. Influence of Heat Input on Toughness at -20oC
In Fig. 9 it is seen that those included in the impact
test standard at -20oC are the heat inputs of 1.62 kJ/mm,
1.875 kJ/mm, 2.025 kJ/mm and 2.25 kJ/mm respectively
totalling 110 joules, 148 joules, 112 joules and 160
joules that have a toughness value above 100 joule so
that it complies with applicable standards in the
application of API 5l-X65 steel welding joints with
CHW-S11 filler metal. The highest toughness value
occurs at the 2.25 kJ/mm heat input which corresponds
to the dominant microstructure formed on the weld metal
in the form of acicular ferrite phase.
MATEC Web of Conferences 269, 01009 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201926901009
IIW 2018

4 Conclusions
After submerged arc welding process, study of
microstructural characterization and mechanical
properties investigation, following conclusions were
drawn:

1. Increasing heat input caused the acicular ferrite phase

formed to be more dominant.
2. Increasing heat input caused the grain size at HAZ
area was larger, the ranges from 3.76-5.6 mm.

3. The average measured hardness has a maximum

value i.e. 244.69 HVN in the 0.75 kJ.mm of heat
input at weld area and 217.86 HVN at HAZ area.

4. The measured toughness value has an optimum value

i.e. 160 joules in the 2.25 kJ/mm of heat input at -
20oC of testing temperature and the ductile-brittle
transition temperature was -10oC.

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